Nissan has a long history of paying close attention to what the best in the business are doing, learning from that, and doing it better. I said as much last fall in my review of the Z, knocking the automaker for losing sight of that by focusing too much on doing things their way instead of the best way. The all-new 2025 Nissan Armada shows that someone over in Yokohama had the same idea, because this borrows something from everyone to build seemingly exactly what I was looking for.
What’s new for 2025?
The trusty V8 that powered the outgoing Armada is gone, replaced with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It’s a brand-new engine from Nissan, but it feels conspicuously similar to Ford’s 3.5L EcoBoost V6, which is not a bad thing at all. It successfully pulls off the same balancing act: it’s smooth and refined, brawny and torquey everywhere in the rev range, it feels natural in its responses and its exhaust note suitably tough.
The transmission behind the Armada’s new engine doesn’t feel like a Ford, though. It’s a nine-speed automatic built by the wizards at ZF, the same company behind the best-in-the-business gearboxes for BMW, Stellantis, and more. Surprise, surprise: it’s terrific. The nine-speed is slick and imperceptible when you want it to be, quick to act when you want it to, and doesn’t really misstep save for being slightly indecisive at exactly 48 km/h. Working in tandem, the powertrain pair motivates the Armada effortlessly, with good hustle when you want it, and very impressive fuel efficiency when you ease up. I observed 12.8 L/100 km over my week with it, and it wasn’t all highway.
Automatic four-wheel-drive is standard, and it has a multitude of off-road modes and tools available for when the going gets rough. The Armada’s capability is augmented by active air suspension on this loaded Platinum Reserve trim, which can raise and lower automatically to best suit the circumstances at hand, whether it’s loading up cargo, sailing down the highway, or wading through two feet of water. It also has a very trick 3D surround-view camera system similar to the Infiniti QX80 on which it’s based. It essentially makes the Armada’s nose invisible, which is extremely useful for placing the front wheels precisely, even if the nose of the truck is staring up at the sky.
2025 Armada driving impressions
On road, the 2025 Armada rides wonderfully. It soaks up bumps effectively and maintains impressive body control for such a leviathan, not unlike a GMC Yukon. On that topic: the last Armada drove like a bus. A nice one, but a bus all the same. Some people admired that old-school charm and character, and Nissan’s been careful to preserve a healthy amount of that. The Armada still feels tough, like a proper truck that isn’t too fancy for its own good. And like the last one, it comes standard with a Class IV trailer hitch and can tow up to 8,500 pounds in any trim.
The Armada’s steering has a nice heft to it. It feels direct and deliberate, but no longer overly heavy at low speeds like it used to; it’s much nicer. On that note, the leather that the steering wheel is wrapped in might be the softest, nicest-feeling I’ve ever felt in a vehicle. It calls to mind the Alpina XB7’s exquisite lavalina upholstery. Seriously. It’s the thing you’ll touch the most, and Nissan clearly cared about getting it very right.
Interior comfort, impressions, and tech
Similarly, the turn signal and wiper stalks behind that wheel feel terrific, too. The chunky and substantial-feeling detents, not to mention the smooth finishes free of the plastic flashing and seam lines you’d find in GM and Ford’s comparable trucks, might seem like small details. But details like this matter, and they make all the difference. This careful attention-to-detail extends to the rest of the cabin, which is thoughtfully laid out with piles of well-integrated storage and tasteful design flourishes. I especially liked the placement of the angled wireless charging pad for your phone, under the sliding centre console cover.
Said phone can be connected via wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. But if you’re a cynical curmudgeon like me who prefers a vehicle’s native interface, it’ll reveal one of the only annoying faults of the Armada: it constantly asks if I want to connect to Android Auto. I so, so wish I could tell it: No, and for the love of God, don’t ask me again. Have some confidence in yourself!
Other than that gripe, the tech in the Armada all works well and looks good. The dual 14.3-inch displays are responsive and easy to use, and they’ve borrowed a trick from Mercedes-Benz to control them. The infotainment display is a touchscreen, but you can use the steering wheel controls to control both the gauge cluster and the centre screen. The new Klipsch sound system and updated ProPilot Assist are two new highlight features; the former is a gem, and the latter now has hands-free driving capability on top of Nissan’s already effective suite of assists, bringing it in-line with Ford’s BlueCruise and GM’s Super Cruise systems. Even little touches like the “needles” on the digital speedometer and tach have a smooth sweep, something with which most competitors continue to struggle.
Nissan doesn’t need to seek inspiration for its seats, their signature Zero Gravity seats have always been as comfy as it gets, and the two-tone quilted leather that adorns these heated, vented, and massaging chairs is gorgeous. Even some high-end brands will have an out of place stitch here or a curious wrinkle in the upholstery there, but not this Nissan; fit and finish is impeccable. It all looks and feels properly excellent – the only thing I’d change is the piano black array of buttons on the center console, but I appreciate that there are buttons, rather than another screen.
Is the new Armada worth it?
If it sounds like I’m impressed with the 2025 Nissan Armada, it’s because I really am, especially with this fully loaded truck’s sticker of $106,298 as-tested, seriously undercutting anything comparably equipped from its competitors. This redesign is exactly what the Armada needed, carefully cherry-picking the best of what’s out there and and doing it all just as well or better, in one extremely compelling package. Let me put it this way: save for Super Cruise, I can’t think of anything I liked better in the updated GMC Yukon AT4 over this newest Armada. Seriously.
